Keys to a Happier Life

What I tell you, dear readers, comes right from the soul;
it’s intended to help you, to sooth and console.
As a newspaper man, I am happy to give;
these are keys to a happier life you can live.

Many times life will seem like a path without light,
or a labyrinth twisting and turning with spite.
But the best thing to do when the going gets tough
is to keep looking up at that bright shiny stuff.

(For the stars in the night are a cosmic renown
  and are there as an aid to preclude looking down.
  Overhead in the heavens, the starlight is rife
  and can serve as a key for a happier life.)

Now it also will help when you leave the outside
to come into your house and let calming abide.
Clouds of riot and roil may give you the blues,
so before you go in wipe blue dust from your shoes.

Without dust you may find that your steps are more free
and that clarified air will allow you to see.
Yet despite clarity, sourness might cascade;
so if life gives you lemons, then make lemonade.

Be yourself is a key you can use, I would say,
to unlock any door in life‘s structured array.
The pretentious can shoulder the door down with force,
but sincerity makes better entrance, of course.

This is not to imply you should always lie flat,
or let people use you as a dirty doormat.
Be assertive and welcome a mindful debate
but speak softly because it will carry more weight.

Gentle readers, the anger will come now and then;
yet to temper the anger count slowly to ten.
(O advice from a mother to this day rings true;
  I am more than content to provide it to you.)

You can minimize down-time to feel good for sure;
please don’t try to please everyone--fail will occur.
Listen more and talk less for humility sake
and let love warm the heart in event of heartache.

Gentle Readers, I hope that you find these keys sound;
be advised that some ire may still hang around.
But what lingers around can be put on a shelf,
and with ire in place you can then be yourself.


40 Lines (Anapestic Tetrameter)
Writer’s Cramp
1-7-15